Day trippers flock to see Concordia

The island of Giglio – which feared its appeal as a tourist attraction would suffer as a result of the Costa Concordia disaster – has received an unexpected boost in visitor numbers from day trippers who want to see the wreckage.
Tourists are flocking in from the mainland port of Santo Stefano, paying 10 Euros each for the 10-mile crossing. The ferry passes within yards of the stricken cruise ship at the entrance to the island’s harbour.
The local mayor, Sergio Ortelli, said: “There has been a rise in the number of tourists coming for the day, with curious people taking photos of the giant sprawled on the rocks.”
Just as feared, however, the disaster has had a negative effect on hotel reservations and holiday bookings. Councill member Alessandro Centurioni said: “The Concordia has become part of our landscape, but it has also spoiled it. Every time I see it, I feel the pain and sadness once more.”
The cruise ship ran aground on January 13, with the loss of 32 lives. Salvage workers do not now expect to be able to re-float and remove the hull before March or April next year.
The work involves attaching watertight chambers called caissons to the side of the ship still above water. Cranes will pull the vessel upright, and then more caissons will be attached to the other side so it can be towed away.